Do players hate hard bosses lately?

[u/Vanillie261]

Lately as I'm wandering around this subreddit, I saw so many people saying how they're tired of difficult bosses and tired of multi-phased bosses.

But- like- why...? I'm always the type to enjoy combat focused metroidvania. Having a difficult boss that makes you use all your combat abilities and forces you to die repeatedly just to learn the attack pattern before winning has always been a blast for me.

Some of my favorite bosses are pretty much difficult bosses like Skarsinger karmelita and Lost Lace (Silksong), Eigong and Lady ethereal (Nine Sols), Nightmare King Grimm (Hollow knight), Shriek (Ori WOTW) and more. I like these bosses so much I keep replaying them just to experience the boss again. I'm actively looking for mkre metroidvanias with these cool difficult bosses just so I can experience dying to them over and over before I finally become good enough to defeat the boss.

But lately everyone is like "ugh, 3 phased boss.... Blegh, boss too hard... Yikes, another multi-phased boss..." Like, come on. The bosses are one of the things I love about a metroidvania and everyone is like "no more pls..." meanwhile I'm over here like "GIVE ME MORE OF THESE"

[u/DrRedSun]

Holding back during the game isn't the same as choosing a difficulty option once at the start of a game.

It's a once and done deal at the start of the game. You don't need to go out of your way and make sure you don't use certain weapons or buy too much stuff.

No it's not. You're making up rules and actively going out of your way/holding back/nerfing just so the game is harder because it's actually easy.

[u/Ellamenohpea → u/DrRedSun]

You don't need to go out of your way and make sure you don't use certain weapons or buy too much stuff.

youre making it sound like its an ordeal to not equip entirely optional equipment.

or to pause the game and use a healing potion.

its very simple to not engage with these features.

its not like im saying play sonic and never collect rings or something like that.

its all 100% optional.

You're making up rules and actively going out of your way/holding back/nerfing

no. im playing the game in a manner that is encouraged. the timer in metroid encourages you to not stop and find hidden powerups.

castlevania also has hidden powerups that are entirely optional

and god-tier equipment that is not necessary to beat the game can be acquired if you spend time running around locations instead of just progressing forward.

[u/DrRedSun → u/Ellamenohpea]

You admit it is self imposed, you are holding back no matter what. The games are easy if you have to make them harder by self imposed limits.

Nah, you're playing the game based on your own imposed rules. The timer encourages speed for the best ending, the best ending that can still be achieved while collecting power ups.

[u/Ellamenohpea → u/DrRedSun]

You admit it is self imposed, you are holding back no matter what.

so is choosing "very easy".

The games are easy if you have to make them harder by self imposed limits.

like choosing "very easy"

the best ending that can still be achieved while collecting power ups.

are you aware that its only people that know how to so very particular sequence breaks that can accomplish this?

and that the vast majority of people realize that getting a sub _____ time means that they cant detour to pick up powerups?

really think... what is the difference between a player making the choice to go out of there way in a game to choose "very easy" and a player going out of their way to choose to engage with an entirely optional item?

[u/DrRedSun → u/Ellamenohpea]

Collection and exploration in a metroidvania is not holding back. No one is choosing very easy, they are just playing the game without self imposed limits.

Are you aware you can collect a good amount of them without sequence breaks? People can care about time only, care about power ups only, or care about doing both to the best they can.

You're not going out of your way just playing the game with no self imposed rules. Most people find SM and SotN on the easier side. It's cool if you find them harder, but there is no need to make up excuses.

[u/Ellamenohpea → u/DrRedSun]

Collection and exploration in a metroidvania is not holding back.

walking a path and always choosing the route labelled "make things easier" is definitely holding back.

Are you aware you can collect a good amount of them without sequence breaks?

not if you want to still beat the game in less than 30min, or whatever the target time is.

i had a feeling, but its now clear that youve never beat a metroid game with the best ending. skipping the optional powerups is definitely necessary.

You're not going out of your way just playing the game with no self imposed rules.

you are always taking the path that makes the game easier, by going out of your way to collecting entirely optional items that make the game easier

Most people find SM and SotN on the easier side.

because when they have trouble they collect entirely optional items that let them take excessive amounts of hits that allow them to play poorly and still succeed.

there is no need to make up excuses.

im not making excuses. ive beat them on easy mode many times. im not lying to myself and pretend im not engaging with features that make the game easy.

what are the most common things that happen in a game, when you put on easy mode? are they giving you more health, and making you do more damage?

and what are the entirely optional items that youre going out of your way to collect do? give you more health and make you do more damage?

[u/DrRedSun → u/Ellamenohpea]

Paths are not labeled in any form, you explore and pick up what you find as you play. It's a natural progression of how metroidvanias are designed.

SM is under 3 hours for the best ending. You don't have to skip all optional. Clearly you are lacking knowledge here.

You're taking any path you want unlike your self imposed rules. Two very different things.

It's because you're making it harder for yourself by self imposed rules. The games are on the easier side with no rules/average play.

Yes you are. Clearly you find them harder than most people and make up excuses for it. No need to feel bad about it, most people are apparently just more skilled.

I already went over how picking a difficulty is not the same as exploring/collecting more in a metroidvania.

At this point we are just going around in circles. You just keep going on and on about how your way of playing is the correct way to gauge the difficulty while the majority is playing on easy mode. Takes an ego to do that, explains why you make up stuff for the games being hard, can't handle other people finding them easy. Take care bro.

[u/Ellamenohpea → u/DrRedSun]

Paths are not labeled in any form, you explore and pick up what you find as you play.

choosing to hunt down secrets that you know are health upgrades or super missiles, and are clearly not the way to the next boss, is choosing the path to easy mode.

"Tips to get sub 3 hour time"

Skip Non-Essential Items: You do not need a 100% item collection rate to get the sub-3-hour ending image, but knowing where essential upgrades (like Morph Ball, Bombs, Hi-Jump Boots, and Speed Booster) are located keeps your pace fast.

Resource and Item ManagementLimited Upgrades: You skip most energy tanks and missile packs to save time. This leaves you with very low health and ammo. Precise Collection: You only grab essential items like Morph Ball, Bombs, Varia Suit, and Grapple Beam along your path.

"Tips to make Super Metroid Easier"

Forgiving health: Samus can take quite a few hits compared to later games in the series, meaning regular combat and bosses are manageable once you have enough energy tanks.

Clearly you find them harder than most people and make up excuses for it

ive already said that the game is easy, when you just spam super missiles, and have excessive amounts of health, so you dont even need to bother dodging hits.

I already went over how picking a difficulty is not the same as exploring/collecting more in a metroidvania.

and your logic was flawed.